but it's something.

Every other Monday SD has an over night visit at her moms. Most Tuesday mornings mom has to work at 7:00 or 7:30 and has to drive SD 20 minutes back and then drive 20 minutes back to work. This causes SD to get up at least an hour earlier than the norm, and mom doesn't account for this by having SD go to bed any earlier - she's usually up longer. For years we have asked that if mom has to be at work early could she please bring SD home just before bed so she could sleep and have a "normal" morning. She has always refused, saying that is her time with her daughter and DH can't take away that precious time. Yes, the time when she is SLEEPING, as that's all mom would miss out on, other than the 20 minute car ride with a cranky, non morning person girl! This became particularly frustrating when mom remarried and she and hubs began going to bed a full hour before SD does, so SD spent that precious time watching TV alone in her room before going to bed when ever she felt like.

Anyway, past aside mom emailed this weekend that she had to fly out at 6:00am Tuesday morning on a business trip and would like to bring SD home Monday night rather than get her up that early in the AM Tuesday. HOLY COW!! Common sense!

Now, the pessimistic side to that story is that mom also made a comment that she wanted to see SD as much as possible before she left but was having problems working everything out at her house with her being gone, which we could pretty much assume meant she wanted hubs to bring SD home Tuesday morning after she left for the airport and he refused. So, maybe it wasn't so much common sense as lack of another option, but I'm trying to be optimistic in light of the steps we have recently made.

And for those who are keeping track, it's almost been a month that we have been *getting along* - complete with exchanged joking emails about a red-neck wedding for SD and how lucky she is to have both of us to help with it. . . . her words, not mine.

I really have found it changes my whole perspective on things for the better. I can let things slide with a little chuckle where before I would work myself up. After 10 years, it's a nice calm to have.